A few years ago we moved from a fairly quiet neighborhood, where our home was located on a cul-de-sac so there was not much traffic. Crime had never been much of an issue on our little street, we were familiar with our neighbors, and tried to keep a watch on each other’s property.
But, with both of us working full time my husband and I were not always very observant.
In fact, I recall a time long ago when I began to notice an unfamiliar vehicle parked at the end of our street. It was there each morning when I left for work. The car was backed up against the cul-de-sac facing the homes for about a week or so. I remember thinking that was kind of strange, but that was as far as I got.
Some time later, a neighbor enlightened me.
“Hey they arrested those thugs who were staking out neighborhoods and stealing property, breaking into houses after the people left for work.” My neighbor went on with even more details of how they caught them.
The whole time he was speaking I was thinking, “Huh? What thugs?”
He must have noticed the puzzled look on my face so he added, “You know, that strange car at the end of our street a while back? They had been breaking into houses in other neighborhoods, and were watching us to see what time we went to work and came home.”
(Oh. Yeah. Those thieves. Lol.)
You know, this experience did have me thinking about another “thief”, in the spiritual realm, who is staking us out.
For many years, I had been unaware of how easily he had access into my life. For the most part, I held the front door wide open for him to come, and go as he pleased.
Of course, I am referring to the Devil. Some people do not believe that he exist but the Bible says that he does. (Once I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit I became more aware of the spiritual world around us, but that’s another column.) For years my lack of knowledge and passivity to his existence left me vulnerable to his schemes.
He had a free pass to steal the word of God from me, thus bringing destruction into my life, and literally trying to kill me. And for the most part, I was cooperating with him fully. “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”
Even after I was born again, I had no idea that many of my beliefs/words/actions were actually coming into agreement with demonic influences.
I don’t mean to magnify anything the Devil does, but at the same time we must be aware that he is real and occasionally will park at the end of our streets, watching/listening, therefore we must “be sober, be vigilant, because (our) adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
But, Jesus HAS defanged him, declawed him and made an open show of him. Satan has no power over the born again children of God. Yet, many of us are unaware of “his wiles,” or devices.
Satan cannot just devour anyone, he needs our constant and cooperation.
For example, in the area of health, we have all made remarks about getting older and how “these pains can just be expected.” My Bible says differently.
The children of Israel were in bondage, slaves to the Egyptians for over four hundred years. Heavy labor, poor working conditions, etc.
Yet, Psalms 105:37 tells us when God delivered them from the Egyptians, ‘He brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes.” Websters definition of feeble is; ‘weak, not strong, without force, easily broken, frail.” These former slaves were none of that! This means they came out of bondage strong, forceful, with vigor, in good health and might I add, wealthy/prosperous. They did nothing to earn any of this. They just got up and went, they obeyed the voice of the Lord speaking to Moses. (Again, I’m getting into a whole other column.) Lol!
So this is one of the things I profess over my life every day, “I’m getting older, but I am not aging. Body you will serve me well all the days of my life. In Jesus name I do not allow any infirmities of the elderly in my body or mind.”
I am not in denial that theses things exist, I am denying their right to exist in me – to steal, kill or bring destruction in my body/life. (I am also cooperating with physical laws as well, I am exercising, making better food choices, take vitamins, etc.)
Also, mankind has seen certain diseases passed down through families. It is expected now as a “natural” occurrence. But these are demonic curses bought on by the fall of man. Yet, Jesus has become accursed for us. He has redeemed us through His precious blood. If you are born again in Christ Jesus, you are coming from a new blood line. But for the most part, Christians just passively accept this “judgement formed against us” like Grandma passing down her quilts, or fine china.
Now, please understand, it is not my intention to bring guilt, or condemnation on any person, on the contrary, I want to stir you up!
We had things like this in our family linage, but when I saw the truth in God’s word, “life and death are in the power of the tongue,” and “by His stripes we WERE healed,” and hundreds of other verses regarding our inheritance in Christ Jesus, here on this earth, well, I became bold!
I cancelled those generationally curses in my family, and over myself and my bloodline, because the blood of Jesus speaks a better word.
We know many things about fallen man, but sadly, in proportion we know very little about risen God.
Therefore, Satan is using our authority against us. The Bible says that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” and our tongues are like a revolving door, giving Satan complete access. We need to learn when to “lock” that door and when to “open” it. When to rebuke the Devil and when to declare God’s blessings/promises, and provisions over ourselves and families.
But the Devil is not like God, Satan is not omnipresent, he cannot be everywhere at same time. But he doesn’t have to be, all he has to do is take advantage of our ignorance, or unbelief, or wrong doctrines and plant seeds of failure, destruction, weakness, lack, poverty, ill health to be passed down for generations.
Now, I know most of us are not doing these things willingly, but until we understand that God is good, and the Devil is bad. Until, we know our inheritance under the new covenant, and how we are being deceived out of our right to good health/emotional wellness/prosperity, then Satan will continue to have access, and by our own omission – permission to steal, kill and bring destruction into our lives.
So, “therefore, submit yourselves to God. (His word regarding deliverance, good health, prosperous lives.) Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Find a good Bible based church, who speaks and stands on the FULL Gospel message (healing, prosperity/generous able, emotionally well) … this is not only your spiritual family, but your neighborhood watch group. To correct you, encourage you, stand in faith with you, and grow you up in the knowledge of Christ Jesus- Who is now living in you.
Nothing lost, nothing stolen- nothing but the Blood of Jesus!!!
(Parenthesis mine.)
(John 10:10; Hosea 4:7; 1 Peter 2:24, 5:8; Proverbs 18:21; James 4:7)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
